Five months after being attacked and bitten by a fox near the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) is introducing legislation that would reduce the costs of rabies treatment for uninsured people.
The bill, Affordable Rabies Treatment for Uninsured Act, would establish a program to reimburse healthcare providers for administering costly doses of the human rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine to people not covered by a health insurance plan.
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“Despite being a fatal disease, rabies is preventable if treated quickly. After being bit by a rabid fox, I was fortunate to have access to readily available and low-cost vaccines. But for too many Americans, the costs of treatment would break their banks,” said Bera. “I encourage all Americans to remain vigilant around wild animals and to seek medical attention if bitten or scratched. Costs should never be a barrier for individuals seeking life-saving treatment.”
Bera, a physician, received a five-course rabies treatment in April after a wild fox bit him. The vixen was captured and euthanized, testing positive for rabies, after attacking several people on Capitol Hill.
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Rabies treatments can range from $1,200 to $6,500, according to the CDC. Roughly 60,000 people in the U.S. are treated for rabies each year. Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease, though it is deadly if left untreated. People who have come into contact with a rabid animal are recommended to seek medical attention.
